By Keith Idec
Freddie Roach isn’t convinced it was actually Manny Pacquiao that called out Conor McGregor last week.
Pacquiao’s trainer thinks it might’ve been someone who works with the Filipino legend that actually issued a playful challenge to the UFC superstar through Pacquiao’s official Instagram and Twitter accounts. Nevertheless, if Pacquiao and McGregor were ever to meet in a boxing ring, Roach predicted McGregor wouldn’t stand much of a chance.
“Well, you know, it’s really unlike Manny to call anyone out,” Roach said during CompuBox TV’s “Inside Boxing Live” podcast Monday night. “I don’t know who was behind that, but it was done and I saw that. And I think it’s a good fight for Manny. It’s an easy fight for Manny. I don’t think too highly of McGregor as a boxer and, you know, I think Manny would destroy him. You know, the thing is, can he beat him like Mayweather did, and then maybe get Mayweather back in the picture.”
Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs), who’ll turn 39 on December 17, lost a controversial, 12-round unanimous decision to Australia’s Jeff Horn (17-0-1, 11 KOs) in his last fight, July 2 in Brisbane, Horn’s hometown.
Ireland’s McGregor is three months removed from a 10th-round, technical-knockout defeat to undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. (50-0, 27 KOs) in his pro boxing debut. McGregor, 29, hasn’t committed to participating in another boxing match.
Roach, who works with UFC middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre, didn’t see the Mayweather-McGregor match because he was working Miguel Cotto’s corner the same night in Carson, California.
“To be honest with you, I didn’t watch the fight,” Roach said. “I had Miguel Cotto fighting that night [in an easy win over Yoshihiro Kamegai]. I was working and I had no reason to tape that fight because it was a guy trying to beat the record of everyone else in boxing, fighting a guy with an 0-0-0 record. I mean, I don’t think that fight should’ve even been sanctioned, to be honest with you.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.